Molded fiberglass sidelite assembly

Abstract

A sidelite assembly including first and second panels with an opening for receiving a window or glazing is provided. The first and second panels include inner and out edge portions with ridges and/or channels that allow for the alignment and attachment of the first and second panels to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sidelite assembly, comprising:
 first and second panels having first and second major planar portions, respectively, that collectively define an opening for receiving a glazing panel,
 the first panel comprising a first inner edge portion and a first outer edge portion extending from the first major planar portion, the first inner edge portion surrounding the opening and including an inner edge ridge extending from a distal end of the first inner edge portion, the first outer edge portion positioned adjacent to a periphery of the first major planar portion and including an outer edge ridge extending from a distal end of the first outer edge portion, the first panel further comprising a first extension edge portion including a first parallel leg extending parallel to the first major planar portion and a first perpendicular leg extending perpendicular to the first parallel leg, the first extension edge portion including an extension ridge extending from a distal end of the first extension edge portion, 
 the second panel comprising a second inner edge portion and a second outer edge portion extending from the second major planar portion, the second inner edge portion surrounding the opening and having an inner edge channel extending into a distal end of the second inner edge portion, the second outer edge portion positioned adjacent to the periphery of the second major planar portion and having an outer edge channel extending into a distal end of the second outer edge portion, the second panel further comprising a second extension edge portion including a second parallel leg extending parallel to the second major planar portion and a second perpendicular leg extending perpendicular to the second parallel leg, the second extension edge portion including an extension channel extending into a distal end of the second extension edge portion, 
 
 wherein the inner edge ridge and the outer edge ridge are received in the inner edge channel and the outer edge channel, respectively, to align the first and second panels with one another and form a cavity between the first and second major planar portions, wherein the extension ridge is received in the extension channel, and wherein the first and second extension edge portions are removable from the panels without disturbing the cavity. 
 
     
     
       2. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second major planar portions have identical configurations, except for the ridges and the extensions. 
     
     
       3. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel further comprises a first inner wall intermediate the first inner edge portion and the first outer edge portion, wherein the second panel further comprises a second inner wall intermediate the second inner edge portion and the second outer edge portion, and wherein the first and second inner walls are aligned with one another to establish a pocket between the aligned inner walls and the first and second outer edge portions. 
     
     
       4. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner edge portion and the first outer edge portion extend perpendicularly from the first major planar portion, and wherein the second inner edge portion and the second outer edge portion extend perpendicularly from the second major planar portion. 
     
     
       5. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are first and second door panels, respectively. 
     
     
       6. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a core disposed in the cavity. 
     
     
       7. The sidelite assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, wood composite, and cardboard. 
     
     
       8. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheries of the first and second major planar portions are rectangular. 
     
     
       9. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are formed of a fiberglass-reinforced composite material. 
     
     
       10. The sidelite assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising the glazing panel received in the opening. 
     
     
       11. A door and sidelite assembly, comprising:
 a header having opposite first and second ends; 
 a sidelite jam secured to the first end of the header; 
 a first door jamb secured to the header; 
 a second door jamb secured to the header and positioned between the sidelite jamb and the first door jamb; 
 a door situated between the first and second door jamb and secured to at least one of the door jambs; and 
 the sidelite assembly of  claim 1  situated between the second door jamb and the sidelite jamb. 
 
     
     
       12. A sidelite assembly, comprising:
 first and second panels having first and second major planar portions, respectively, that collectively define an opening for receiving a glazing panel,
 the first panel comprising a first inner edge portion and a first outer edge portion extending from the first major planar portion, the first inner edge portion surrounding the opening, the first outer edge portion positioned adjacent to a periphery of the first major planar portion, the first inner edge portion including a first inner edge ridge on a first half of the first panel relative to an imaginary longitudinal centerline and having a first inner edge channel on a second half of the first panel relative to the imaginary longitudinal centerline; the first outer edge portion including a first outer edge ridge on the first half of the first panel relative to the imaginary longitudinal centerline and having a first outer edge channel on the second half of the first panel relative to the imaginary longitudinal centerline, 
 the second panel comprising a second inner edge portion and a second outer edge portion extending from the second major planar portion, the second inner edge portion surrounding the opening, the second outer edge portion positioned adjacent to a periphery of the second major planar portion, the second inner edge portion including a second inner edge ridge on a first half of the second panel relative to the imaginary longitudinal centerline and having a second inner edge channel on a second half of the second panel relative to the imaginary longitudinal centerline; the second outer edge portion including a second outer edge ridge on the first half of the second panel relative to the imaginary longitudinal centerline and having a second outer edge channel on the second half of the second panel relative to the imaginary longitudinal centerline, 
 the first and second panels further collectively forming a removable extension edge configured to be removed without disturbing a cavity established between the first and second major planar portions and the inner and outer edges of the first and second panels, 
 
 wherein the first inner edge ridge and the first outer edge ridge are received in the second inner edge channel and the second outer edge channel, respectively, and the second inner edge ridge and the second outer edge ridge are received in the first inner edge channel and the first outer edge channel, respectively. 
 
     
     
       13. The sidelite assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second major planar portions have identical configurations. 
     
     
       14. The sidelite assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first panel further comprises a first inner wall intermediate the first inner edge portion and the first outer edge portion, wherein the second panel further comprises a second inner wall intermediate the second inner edge portion and the second outer edge portion, and wherein the first and second inner walls are aligned with one another to establish a pocket between the aligned inner walls and the first and second outer edge portions. 
     
     
       15. The sidelite assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second panels are first and second door panels, respectively. 
     
     
       16. The sidelite assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a core disposed in the cavity. 
     
     
       17. The sidelite assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the peripheries of the first and second major planar portions are rectangular. 
     
     
       18. The sidelite assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second panels are formed of a fiberglass-reinforced composite material. 
     
     
       19. The sidelite assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising the glazing panel received in the opening. 
     
     
       20. A door and sidelite assembly, comprising:
 a header having opposite first and second ends; 
 a sidelite jam secured to the first end of the header; 
 a first door jamb secured to the header; 
 a second door jamb secured to the header and positioned between the sidelite jamb and the first door jamb; 
 a door situated between the first and second door jamb and secured to at least one of the door jambs; and 
 the sidelite assembly of  claim 12  situated between the second door jamb and the sidelite jamb.